Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Remembering George Eastman

George Eastman, the man who made photography accessible to the masses was born on this day in 1854. A high school dropout, Eastman would go on to create the largest photography company in the world, and literally the entire photography industry from the ground up.

Initially just wanting to make the photography process a little easier for himself, he eventually perfected the roll film process which is the way film is manufactured and processed to this day.

George Eastman: 1854 - 1932

Eastman has left an indelible legacy both as a businessman and philanthropist. To learn more about his life and legacy, go to the Eastman Museum here.

"Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography."

"You push the button, we do the rest."

"What we do during our working hours determines what we have; what we do in our leisure hours determines what we are."


Thursday, June 29, 2017

Happy National Camera Day!


Like we really shouldn’t need to remind any photographer to go out and use their cameras, but if you’ve been lacking for inspiration, all you need to know today is that it’s National Camera Day!

Grab a camera, any camera... Mine are always packed and ready!
So grab your closest camera (yes, even your phone will qualify!) and make some image magic. And don’t just stop there. Share your work on your favorite sharing platform, and you can even, (dare I say it!?)… PRINT THEM!
So go ahead, get crazy. You all have our permission.
 
 

 



Wednesday, June 28, 2017

It’s Another Great Day for Film Photographers!


Rollei, through their distribution partner, Macodirect have announced a new slide film to be available for pre-order soon. Called Vario Chrome, it’s designed to be especially versatile, with an ISO rating which can be set between 200 and 400. According to their announcement:
Rollei Vario Chrome 135-36 is a medium to high-speed color reversal film that is intended for photography under low-level daylight illumination or under other light sources using proper filtration. Rollei Vario Chrome has a medium degree of sharpness, its image results are characterized by a slightly visible grain and a warmish image tone.
As the name of the film suggests it has a broad exposure latitude from 200 to 400 ISO (DX coded at 320 ISO). If you intend to project the slides we suggest to shoot the film at 200 ISO whereas 320-400 ISO is preferable for scanning applications.



If this film does all that Rollei claims film photographers will have another excellent tool to add to their arsenal.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Creative Inspiration: Ruth Bernhard

If we're open and aware to the world around us, inspiration will find us in many different ways. Too often, photographers, like many artists, become so enamored of the work that they and other members of their tribe are creating, they fail to notice how rich inspiring the work of other artists can be.

Those that work with other media and other fields can shine light on to paths we might never have discovered on our own. We'd  do well to remember that creating art is just half of the equation. The other, and equally important half is creating an artistic life.

Ruth Bernhard offers us a recipe for doing exactly that...








Friday, June 16, 2017

Never say: "Never"! The Holga 120N is Back!

For photographers that appreciate all that's soft and dreamy, for those who understand that less is more, for all who understand that plastic is fantastic... your prayers have been answered...

That's right: The Holga 120N is back!

Many film photographers who were saddened by the demise of that wonderful little plastic miracle that is the Holga can now rejoice at it's return. For reasons that were not clearly stated at the time, the company that made the Holga announced in 2015 that the camera was going out of production and with the molds and dies being destroyed, would never return. Now, however, with the backing of Freestyle Photo in Hollywood, CA, the plastic classic returns.


The classic Holga 120N


The Holga camera was initially introduced to the Chinese public, in 1982, as an inexpensive camera for everyday use. Shortly after its introduction, it became an underground artistic phenomena. Using the Holga is an exercise in breaking free from dependence on technology, precision and controllability. The slight softness of the images, vignetting and random light leaks produce dream-like, one-of-a kind images. There is simply nothing else like it.

Don't pass up this opportunity to make some photo magic. Locally, Holga's are available at Peace Camera in Raleigh. If you're farther afield, they can be found at Freestyle Photo here.


Friday, May 12, 2017

Impossibly Good News!!!

Polaroid announced today that they have been acquired by a new ownership group led by the Smolokowski family, majority shareholders in the Impossible Project. The Impossible Project purchased the last remaining Polaroid factory in 2008 and continues to make instant film for the legacy Polaroid cameras.

2017 marks the 80th anniversary of the company's founding and the purchase would seem to indicate that the instant film and camera market is far from extinct.



For more information, visit the Polaroid website here.



Sunday, April 16, 2017

Celebrate Polaroid Week! April 16th - April 21st

If you've been thinking about trying out or getting back into instant photography, now would be the time! From the days when instantaneous meant you had the patience to wait 2-3 minutes, Polaroid film was the ticket.

Sadly, Polaroid film is no longer readily available, but the Impossible Project has reimagined analogue instant film and brought the joy of holding a real physical print in one's hands to a new generation.

From the archives, shot on Polaroid PN55
(c) Ray Pfeiffer
 
If you thought that you would never get to use your old Polaroid camera and gave it, or threw it away, fear not! There are several new instant formats on the market. A quick trip to your local camera store will allow you to explore the possibilities.
 
So put down your digital disposable, and find an instant camera, grab some film, and make some magic!
 
 
 
 
 
 


Monday, April 10, 2017

Remembering Cornell Capa

Legendary photographer Cornell Capa was born on this day, April 10, 1918. The younger brother of the iconic photojournalist Robert, Cornell went on to produce his own incredible body of work and was also the co-founder of the International Center of Photography.


Like his brother, Robert, Cornell was a member of Magnum and is best known for his work at Life magazine. His coverage of political campaigns, especially the Kennedy campaign in 1960 is the standard most others are judged by.

To learn more about his life and work, visit the Magnum website here.

"Photography is demonstrably the most contemporary of art forms. It is the most vital, effective, and universal means of communication of facts and ideas between peoples and nations."
- Cornell Capa
 
 
 

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Ektachrome is Back!

The news for fans of film, and transparency film in particular, couldn't be better with the announcement from Kodak that Kodachrome film will return to store shelves later this year.

Ektachrome is back!

After being discontinued in all formats in 2012, Ektachrome will return as movie stock, 35mm in 36 exposures, and 8mm movie film. While not as earth-shattering as the return of Kodachrome would be, it's great news for film aficionados nonetheless.

For more details, check out the Kodak press release here.








Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping that 2017 is full of opportunities and your best year ever! To set the mood for the coming year, we offer a few thoughts that we hope will ignite your creative spark and get you moving into the year ahead...


“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.”
- Auguste Rodin



“Art is not a thing, it is a way.” 
 - Elbert Hubbard



”Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
 - Steven Pressfield

 
 
 
“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” 
 - Robert Henri
 
 
 
“Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make. Good. Art.” 
- Neil Gaiman
 
 

 
Here's to a year of amazing creative possibilities! Cheers!
 
 
 
 


 
 

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Honoring Gordon Parks

On this day in 1912, photographer Gordon Parks was born in Fort Scott, KS. To say he was a Renaissance Man would be an understatement. In addition to being a photographer, he was also a musician, composer, writer, painter, and film director. He is best known for his documentary work, created during his time working for the Farm Security Administration, and for Life magazine.

Attending a segregated schools, he had little chance of attending college. A teacher telling him that to go would be a waste of time. Leaving home at the age of 15, he was entirely on his own. Working odd jobs, including managing a brothel, it was while working as a waiter in a railroad dinning car he discovered the portfolios of photographers in picture magazines and decided to become a photographer.
 
American Gothic, Washington, DC
“At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure, and that fear compelled me to fight off anything that might abet it.”
 
To learn more about the life and work of this legendary photographer, check out the website of the Gordon Parks Foundation, here, and the Gordon Parks Museum here.
 
 
 

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Rain Fails to Dampen Spirits Through 2nd Weekend of Click! Photography Festival

Hurricane Matthew brought over 5 inches of rain to some areas of the Triangle, but it didn't stop throngs of photography enthusiasts from attending exhibit openings and other events during the second weekend of the Click! Festival.

The weekend started on Thursday evening with a keynote presentation by Zanele Muholi to a sold-out auditorium at the NCMA. With a series of slides and a short film, Zanele discussed her work as a "Visual Activist". On display at the NCMA are 10 images from her series "Faces and Phases". The exhibit runs now through January 8, 2017.

Zanele Muholi discussing her work at the NCMA Thursday night.
Photo (c) Ray Pfeiffer

First Friday in Raleigh was damp but there were enthusiastic crowds everywhere. Photo exhibits opening included images by Titus Brooks Higgins from his series Rorschach at Artspace, a group show titled A sense of... at the Roundabout Art Collective, and Drawn to Water, an exhibit of Bryce Lankard's work at Flanders Gallery.
 
Bryce Lankard discusses his work during his artist talk at Flanders Gallery.
Photo (c) Ray Pfeiffer

Sunday brought relief from the rain with a lot of sunshine and also the opening of Stephen Fletcher's exhibit Some Semblance at Framers Corner in Carrboro. And later that afternoon, Bryce Lankard spoke to a standing room only crowd at Flanders Gallery discussing the images from his most recent series, Drawn to Water.

The weekend was wrapped-up with a special screening of Bending Space, at The Carolina Theatre, a documentary of the Georges Rousse project which took place in Durham 10 years ago.

To be sure you don't miss any more events, go to the Click! website and sign up for the newsletter which has all the up-to-the-minute happenings during the Festival.
 
 

Monday, October 3, 2016

Jerry Uelsmann Talk is the Highlight of Click! Opening Weekend

Legendary photographer Jerry Uelsmann capped off  a great weekend of Click! events with a keynote speech to a packed auditorium at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University Sunday afternoon. In a talk titled: "alchemy + angst @ 82, Jerry spoke openly about his art and career, and the struggles he's faced during a career spanning almost six decades.

Jerry speaking at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
photograph (c) Ray Pfeiffer
Following his talk was a reception at Through This Lens gallery in Durham where an exhibit of his work is on display through October 15th.

Jerry is the Godfather of photo montage and a true original. Don't miss a rare opportunity to experience close up the magic of his work.

Jerry signing books at Through This Lens
photograph (c) Ray Pfeiffer






Friday, September 30, 2016

2016 Click! Triangle Photography Festival Kicks Off With Frontier Pop-Up Exhibit


The 2016 Click! Triangle Photography Festival got underway last night with the opening of the Frontier Pop-Up exhibit. With more than twice the number entries this year over last, juror Chris Ogden had a difficult time selecting work, and an even harder time selecting award winners. But after much deliberation this years award winners are:

First Place: "The Red" - Tim Walter
 
"The Red" (c) Tim Walter
 

Second Place: "Drive" - Tricia McKeller
 
 
"Drive" (c) Tricia McKeller
 
 
Third Place: "Communion" - Mike Ligett
 
"Communion" (c) Mike Ligett
 
And last, but by no means least, we have the following Honorable Mentions:

Jo Bolton - "Faceless Man"
M. Robert Blum - "The Look"
Peter Finkelstein - "Agony"

Barbara Guin – “Beach Monuments”
Ray Pfeiffer - "Variations on a Theme #3"

Thanks to all the artists that submitted work and everyone who came out last night to make the evening great. And BIG thanks to our juror, Chris Ogden, for his time and the terrific talk he gave on this years exhibit.

 
There's so much to do this month we can't list it all here. So head on over the Click! website and plan the rest of your month right now!
 
 
 
 

Monday, August 22, 2016

Call for Work: 2016 Click! Triangle Photography Festival Pop-Up Exhibit

A wall from the 2015 Click! Pop-Up Exhibit

Click! is calling all photographers to exhibit in The Frontier Building in RTP for the month of October. This exhibition will coincide with the Click! Triangle Photography Festival. This call-for-art is open to all photographic processes and aesthetics.  The Click! Pop-Up Exhibition's juror is Chris Ogden. 

For all the details and to register, go to the EventBrite site here.

The Theme:
The theme for this years exhibit will be: In an Instant. Photography is the only art that can be created with the click of a shutter. Preserving a moment, saving time. Henri Cartier Bresson spoke of "The Decisive Moment". That instant when the elements of form and substance came together in a geometrically pleasing way. Click! is asking artists to show us their decisive moment, the work you create, In an Instant...

 About The Juror:
Chris Ogden is a professional photographic artist, educator, and expedition leader who specializes in fine art, landscape, and commercial photography. He travels from pole to pole to discover, capture, and share the “essence” of places and moments. His work is enthusiastically owned by private and corporate collections alike. Chris particularly enjoys teaching, whether in classroom workshops, photo safaris, image critiques, or private mentoring. Chris has judged dozens of photography contests, both online and in print.

 
Juried with JPEGs. Up to three (3) entries per artist. Accepted work must not exceed 72 inches in any dimension (including frame) or weigh more than 50lbs. Entries must be received by 11:59pm on Monday, September 19, 2016.

Schedule:
Entry Deadline.……….…….…..……….... September 19, 2016 @ 11:59pm
Notification…………………………………..….. September 23
Delivery of Accepted Work…….........…....….. Sept 26, 11am-2pm & Sept 27, 2pm-5pm
Opening Reception………….………….…….…September 29, 6-8pm
Exhibition Run……………………….…….…….September 29 – October 27, 2016
Pick-Up of Unsold Work…………………..…... October 27, 11am-5pm & October 28, 11am-5pm


Oasis by Christer Berg
2015 First Prize Winner

Awards:
First…………………………………$100
Second…………...……………….. $75
Third…………………………….…. $50

Entry Fees:
$15 for two pieces*
$20 for three pieces*
*All entry fees are non-refundable.

Eligibility:
The Click Pop-Up Exhibit is open to all living artists. A maximum of three works per artist may be submitted. Only two dimensional entries will be accepted. Work must be original to the artist that submits it. Click! and the Frontier Building reserves the right to exclude work due to size or special requirements. Entries must be hand delivered to the Frontier Building during the times allowed. We currently do not have the capability to handle work shipped.

Submission Process:

First:
Register through Eventbrite here.

Then:
Email images of your entries to 
info.aphotographersplace@gmail.com. The subject heading should read: Click Pop-Up Exhibit Entry. In the body copy list: 1) Your Name 2) Titles of each entry 3) Medium 4) Dimensions of finished piece (including frame) 5) Price for each piece (or NFS).

All files should be named like so: 01_LASTNAME_TITLE.jpg, 02_LASTNAME_TITLE.jpg.

All images should be sent as jpegs and should be at least 1000px at their widest dimension, not to exceed 2MB per image. Artists may submit one JPEG per entry. Follow the filename format for works as indicated above.

Acceptance:
Accepted work must not exceed 72 inches in any dimension (including frame) or weigh more than 50lbs. All work accepted into the exhibit must be delivered and picked up during the times stated, unless other arrangements have been made. Work must be labeled with: 1) Title 2) Artist name 3) Medium 4) Sale price (or NFS)

Accessibility:
The Frontier Building gallery space is fully accessible and we strive to make the submission process accessible as well. We encourage anyone to enter our open call for exhibition. If you need any additional information please email us at:
info.aphotographersplace@gmail.com

Shipping Artwork:
We are sorry, but we are not able to accept work shipped to us at this time.

Sales:
Neither Click! or the Frontier Building take a commission on any work sold. Patrons interested in purchasing work will be referred to the artist directly. If a work is not for sale please indicate with NFS value in appropriate space during registration or on the consignment sheet.

Liability:
All entries will be handled with the best care possible, but neither Click! nor the Frontier Building  are responsible for loss or damage of any cause. By entering into this show, the artist agrees to abide by all rules and regulations as set by exhibition guidelines.

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest.


Saturday, August 20, 2016

Click! Photogrpahy Festival Portfolio Reviews Open for Registration


The Click! Festival is proud to announce the return of Portfolio Reviews this October! This year the program has been expanded and reviewees will now have a day of 30 minute review sessions with participants receiving a minimum of five scheduled reviews as well as roving reviewer opportunities.  Present your portfolio to curators, gallerists, and collectors. Engage with your peers, your community and photography's finest.

For more information and to learn more about each reviewer, go to the Click! website here.

Photo by Rachel McClain

The Click! Distinguished Reviewer Line-Up for 2016:

Alexa Dilworth...Center for Documentary Studies (CDS), Duke University

Roylee Duvall...Through This Lens Gallery

Alicia Lange...SPECTRE Arts

Dennis Kiel...Dishman Art Museum, Lamar University

Michael Pannier...Southeast Center for Photography

Bill Schwab...Photostock & North Light Press

Mary Virginia Swanson...Independent Consultant, Author, Educator

Maggie Triplette...Private Collector & Patron Rick Wester...

Rick Wester Fine Art Del Zogg...Consultant & Independent Curator

Registration fee: The fee to register is $300, first-come-first-serve. Participants are guaranteed a minimum of five sessions on Sunday, October 23rd, from 9am to 4pm, followed by a happy hour with the reviewers and a portfolio walk open to the community. A print exchange will be organized by The Gallery 145 for all participants.

If you are an emerging to mid-career level photographer, with a solid body of work and a history of exhibitions and/or publications, this event is for you. Go to the Click! website and register today. With a limited number of openings, they will be going fast!





Friday, August 19, 2016

World Photo Day 2016

Today is World Photo Day 2016! Help celebrate the art of photography with thousands of photographers around the world.

In a world where millions of pictures are uploaded every minute, World Photo Day is inspiring thousands of photographers across the planet to share a single photo with a simple purpose: to share their world with the world.
 
Barn in Fog (c) Ray Pfeiffer
 

From everyday life to incredible landscapes, our global gallery is an evolving mosaic of images captured by photographers of all skills levels living in a diverse range of countries and cultures.

No matter who you are, where you are or what equipment and skills you have, World Photo Day can help open your eyes to the possibilities of photography, and enable you to share the world as you see it.
 
Kids at Play (c) Ray Pfeiffer
 

Every photo has a story. Now you have the opportunity to share your story with the world. Go to the Work Photo Day website here.
 
 
 

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Call for Work: Cary Photographic Artists

The Cary Photographic Artists are now accepting entries for their 9th annual photography exhibition. The show, held each year at the Cary Senior Center, is one of the largest exhibitions in the Triangle.

The exhibit this year will be part of the Click! Triangle Photography Festival. The exhibit will open with a reception on September 30th from 6-8pm. A jurors talk will be at 6:30pm. This years' jurors are exhibiting photographer Diana Bloomfield and Chief Curator of the Ackland Art Museum, Dr. Peter Nisbet.


Registration of images must be completed by September 14, 2016. Drop off of prints for jurying is September 26th at the Cary Senior Center from 1pm to 8pm.

Over $1,200 in prizes are to be awarded. Don't miss out on a great opportunity! To download the prospectus go here.


Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Call for Work: Epson 2016 International Pano Awards

Calling all panorama photographers! Only two weeks left for early-bird entries into the 2016 Epson International Pano Awards. This years prize pool is the largest ever with over $60,000 worth of cash and prizes to be awarded.

Phantoms of the Morning, Barycz Valley (c) Mateusz Piesiak
2015 Major Amateur Winner

Early-bird entries close July 10, 2016. Final deadline is July 24, 2016. For more details on submitting work and all the rules, go to the website here.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Iconic Fashion Photographer for the New York Times Dies

Legendary New York Times street-fashion photographer Bill Cunningham passed away yesterday. He was 87. Known for his keen fashion sense and ascetic lifestyle, he began taking assignments for the New York Times in the 1970's.

Dressed in his trademark blue jacket, khaki pants and black sneakers, he rode his bike through virtually every corner of New York, looking for fashionable people to capture with his camera. His photo essays were must see's for anyone interested in the art of fashion and street photography.

To read more check out the New York Times here and here.